Pants clamp for pressing machine buck



Feb. 2, 1960 2,923,076

R. G. LINTON PANTS CLAMP FOR PREssINQ MACHINE BUCK Filed June 1 6, 1958f -BYAAQASAAM Trams/Ex United States Patent O i Y 2,923,016 PANTS CLAMPFon PREssING MACHINE BUCK Ralph G. Linton, Kanab, Utah Application June16, 1958, Serial No. 742,295

s claims. (ci. .ss-12) This invention pertains to a pants clamp for -apressing machine buck and is particularly related to a pants clampdevice readily adapted to attachment to the buck of the pressing machineto facilitate the pressing and stretching operation on a pair of pants.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a pants clamp whichis readily adaptable for use with the buck of a pressing machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pants clamp attachmentwhich may be applied to the buck of a pressing machine without damagingor deforming the pad or cushion of the buck.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pants clampattachment for a pressing machine buck which is supported upwardly andhorizontally on the table and engages underneath the buck of a pressingmachine when placed in pants stretching operation.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from adetailed description of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a pressin-g machine showing the pantsclamp incorporating the features of this invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pants clamp device.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the pants clamp device shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the pants clamp device shown in Fig. 2. Y

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 55 of Figs. 2 and 4.

As an example of one embodiment of this invention there is shown apressing machine suitably supplied with steam in the usual manner havinga base comprising the legs 11 supporting the table 12 having the topsurface 13 up from which extends the pedestal 14 supporting the usualbuck 15. The buck 15 is covered with the usual pad 16 which may besupplied with steam for the normal pressing operations.

The device under consideration comprises a frame 17 consisting of thespaced legs 18 and 19 connected together at their lower ends by thecross brace 20 and connected to horizontal portions 21 and 22 at theirupper ends 23a. The outer ends of the horizontal members 21 and 22 areconnected by the cross brace 23 while a pressure bar 24 is connectedacross the horizontal members 21 and 22 adjacent the upper ends of thelegs 18 and 19, and a strut 25 is rigidly fixed intermediate the ends ofthe pressure bar 24 and the cross brace 23. A clamp 26 comprises thepressure plate 27 rigidly fixed to the outer ends of the arms 28 whichare pivotally mounted at 29 on the cross brace 23 so as to swing to thefull line clamping position 26 shown in Fig. 5 or to the broken lineretracted 26a position shown in that figure. A pair of upstandingbrackets 30 fixed to the strut 25 pivotally supports at 31 the operatingand clamping handle 32 havingv an outer end 33 which engages the rearsurface 34 of the pressure plate 27 to hold it in clamping position 26.

2,923,076 Patented Feb.V 2, 1960 ice A tension spring 35 interconnectedbetween the pressure piate 27 and one of the brackets 30 normally swingsthe clamp to open position 26a when the clamping handle 32Y is swung toreleased position 32a.

With the lower ends 36 of legs 18 and 19 engaging the top surface 13 ofthe table 12 a chain 37, fixed at 38 to an intermediate portion of thecross brace 20, is suitably connected at its outer end to the edge 39 ofthe table 12 to limit horizontal movement of the lower ends of the legs,to the left in Fig. 1. A second chain 40 is connected at each of itsends to the rear ends of the horizontal members 21 and 22 adjacent theirconnection with the cross brace 23 and extends under and engages theunderside of the buck 15.

With the device thus installed on the pressing machine as shown in Fig.1, the pants 41 have the cuffs 42 clamped between the pressure plate andthe clamp block 43 iixed to the pressure bar 24 whereupon the operatorgrasps or otherwise stretches the pants out over the top of the buck 15while applying the steam from the pressing machine as required. lt isimportant to note that the pulling action on the pants, to the left inFig. 1, causes the device to swing about the lower ends 36 of the legs18 and 19 in the direction indicated by the arrow 44 causing the secondchain 40 to engage the underside of the buck 15 and relieve pressure ofthe` cross brace 23 from engaging the top cover and pad of the buck tothus prevent damage and permanent caving in or deformation of the buckpad detrimental to its normal pressing use. The strut 25 and pressurebar 24 are arranged to just clear the top surface of the buck pad duringthe pants stretching operation as described. Thus, the device mayreadily be applied to 'the steam pressing machine buck without requiringany v special fittings or attachments and in such a way as to avoid allcontact and damage to the buck pad and cover.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes apreferred form of the invention, it is also to be understood that theapparatus is capable of rnechanical alteration without departing fromthe spirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangement andcommercial adaptation as fall within the scope of the appendent claimsare intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully set forth and described this invention, what isclaimed and desired to be obtained by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A pants clamp for a pressing machine having a table with a buckmounted thereon, the clamp comprising a frame including la pair oflaterally spaced legs supported at their lower ends on the top of saidtable of the pressing machine and adapted to extend down each side ofsaid buck, a pressure bar rigidly fixed to the top of said legs andadapted to extend transversely over the top of said buck, horizontalportions adapted to extend longitudinally of said buck from the top ofsaid legs including a transverse cross brace at their outer ends adaptedto extend across and immediately above said buck, a chain connected atits ends to the outer ends of said horizontal portions and said crossbrace and adapted to extend under and engage the underside of said buck,means connected between said frame and the pressing machine tableadapted to limit horizontal relative movement of the lower ends of saidlegs on said table top, and a pants cuff gripping device mounted on saidframe and located above the upper ends of said legs.

2. In a pants clamp as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means connectedbetween said frame and the pressing machine table comprises a chainconnected at the bottom of said legs and to the end of said tableadapted to limit movement of the bottom of said legs in the direction of'pants stretching pull longitudinally of said buck.

said pants cuff gripping device includes a clamp block xed I clamp blockand to lock the same thereto, and'. a spring r.

adapted to normally swing said pressure plate away from said clamp blockwhen said clamping handle is moved to released'position.

References Cited in vthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,372,183 Metcalf et al Mar. 12, 1921 1,885,803 Corby Nov. 1, 19322,159,667 Marvin May 23, 1939 2,499,109 Readv .'Feb. 28,' "1950

